Capital Digest

March 02, 2009|By Tribune news services

So Robert Gates, what's it like working for Barack Obama after serving under George W. Bush? The defense secretary, speaking Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," said Obama is somewhat more analytical and wants to hear from everyone in the room -- and will call on people who don't speak up.

Bush, Gates said, was interested in different points of view, but didn't go out of his way to get them.

Life of the party?: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that talk show personality Rush Limbaugh is a top figure in the GOP and the "intellectual force" of the party, and that Republicans now have to live with that choice. Limbaugh gave a speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee meeting this weekend in Washington during which he restated his previous comments that he hopes the president's plans for the economy fail and that Republicans must return to their core beliefs.

Next up -- Sebelius: President Barack Obama planned to introduce Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Monday as his nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department. Later this week he is to host a White House summit on health care reform. On Sunday, Sebelius won praise from the chairman of the Senate panel that will handle her nomination. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said Sebelius would make a "strong partner" in revamping the health-care system and that she "really gets what needs to be done."